Social Practices of Resource Provision in the Non-Profit Sector of the Resource Region

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of studying social practices in the non-profit sector is due to the need to identify the potential of non-profit organizations in the development of the social sphere of the resource region. The purpose of the article is to study institutional opportunities and obstacles in providing non-profit organizations with the resources necessary for the development of the social sphere and reducing social risks of the population of resource regions. Materials and Methods. The conclusions of the article are based on the results of a comprehensive study of the non-profit sector of the Kemerovo region. The study was conducted by using quantitative and qualitative methods (questionnaire survey, semi-formal interview, expert survey), which allowed to identify the features of interaction of social actors in the non-profit sector. The empirical objects of the study are managers, employees of non-profit and public organizations, heads of charitable foundations established by the large companies to support local social initiatives, the population of monotowns of Kuzbass region, in which the main industrial potential is concentrated. Results. Non-profit organizations have market restrictions in the consumer practices of the local population. A passive pattern of behavior dominates. It is an institutional obstacle to recruiting volunteers and employees and it limits the social base of the non-profit organizations. The authors prove that the prevailing of paternalistic attitudes enroots the traditional pattern and prevents partnership between the authorities and non-profit organizations in achieving common interests. Institutionalized informal practices of the intra-sectoral interaction hinder social partnership as an institutional mechanism for reconciling the interests of the non-profit sector actors in the long-term development goals. The applied significance of the article lies in the fact that the directions of transformation of institutionalized practices are proposed and the experience of organizing relevant types of support for non-profit organizations to contribute to the growth of resource availability of non-profit organizations is described. Discussion and Conclusion. The identified imperfect practices are systemic in nature and act as an inefficient institution in terms of the resource availability of the non-profit sector in the region. The paper has the practical importance for representatives of the non-profit sector and state and municipal authorities.